Living in Switzerland with Family: Practical Tips

High-quality schools, infrastructure, and public services are just some of the advantages of living in Switzerland with family. In this second article, we cover what you need to know about life in Switzerland: childcare, schools, cultural differences, and child-friendly activities.

Start with the first part of this two-part series, Moving to Switzerland with Family.

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Daycare

In Switzerland, maternity leave lasts for 98 days. There is also paternity or second-parent leave, which lasts for two weeks. If your child is ill and can’t go to crèche or school, you’re entitled to three days’ paid leave for minor illnesses and up to 14 weeks’ paid leave for major illnesses.

There are several daycare options:

Public Kitas/crèches: Public nurseries are rare in Switzerland. Check your municipality’s website or give them a call to find out if there are any public options in your area.
Private Kitas/crèches: Most nurseries are private, and they can cost CHF 100-200 per day. Places can be competitive, so register as early as possible.
Kitas/crèches at work: Some employers offer in-house day care. If the nursery isn’t full, these employers may also take children from parents who don’t work at the company. If you’re struggling to find a spot, ask your municipality about local businesses offering childcare.
Childminders (Tagesmutter, Tagesvater): You bring your child to their home. There are usually up to five children at a childminder’s house at any one time. You may pay around CHF 5-12 per hour.
Nannies: They come to your house to take care of your child. You may pay up to CHF 5,000 for a full-time nanny.
Out-of-hours daycare: Many schools offer early-morning, lunchtime, and after-school daycare.

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Schools

The Swiss school system is distinct from other countries, and there are significant cantonal differences. In most areas, children are separated into two to four ability streams from age 11. Those in the highest ability stream are on track to go to university. Everyone else does an apprenticeship or attends technical school. However, this doesn’t mean students in lower ability streams can never get a degree. Because the Swiss school system is very porous, many who initially completed an apprenticeship do a vocational diploma and go to university later in life.

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Find out more: Podcast episode about the Swiss education system with Margaret Oertig

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Children are assigned to schools based on proximity, so you won’t get to choose unless you opt for a private school. Take this into account when deciding where to settle.

Cultural Differences

Switzerland’s culture is still traditional in many ways. This may impact your children’s experiences in several ways.

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School Schedules

Many schools start very early, often at 7:30 am. In most areas, day schools are still not the norm, so children are sent home at lunchtime. Fortunately, almost every school now offers a lunch club (Mittagstisch). Sometimes, this day care service is also available before and after school.

On Wednesdays, kids in most state schools finish school at lunchtime. However, there are many after-school clubs and activities on offer in every area.

School Rules

Depending on where you come from, you might be surprised by some of the school rules. For example, many teachers forbid sugary snacks, fizzy drinks, and fast foods in school. You have to provide your child with snack options such as fruit, juice, cheese, or crackers.

Lateness isn’t usually tolerated. Children who are consistently late for school often get reprimanded, and they might lose points in the class reward system. Make every effort to be on time in the morning and after the lunch break because this makes a good impression on the teacher and most likely makes your child’s time at school easier.

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Focus on Independence

In Swiss schools, there is a big focus on independence from a young age. Your child will be expected to take responsibility for their belongings and homework from primary school. In some schools, it’s expected that children walk, cycle, or scoot to school on their own. Car commutes are frowned upon, and some schools even have campaigns and posters to discourage them.

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Getting involved in the community

In the past, many expats found it difficult to integrate into Swiss society. Locals often socialise with the people they went to school or university with, and it can be hard to break into these friendship groups. However, things have changed in recent years. Now, around 25% of residents are expats, and there are countless international groups in every city. Places like Meetup and Facebook can help you find relevant groups in your area. For kids, there are several additional options.

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Scouts

Scout groups, called Pfadi in Swiss German, are a great way for nature-loving and outdoorsy children to meet peers outside of school. These groups are present in most parts of Switzerland, and kids can join from age five. Some common activities include hiking, outdoor sports and games, orienteering, and pioneer construction.

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Community Centres

Community centres, Gemeinschaftszentren (GZ), are another great place to find activities for the whole family. In Zurich, there are 17 GZ, and they offer a variety of activities from Pilates to kids’ language classes to music playgroups. Although many activities are run in the local language, you might find some activities in your target language. For example, there is a Czech playgroup at GZ Grünau and a bilingual German/English playgroup at GZ Leimbach.

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What to Do with Kids in Switzerland

You won’t be bored in Switzerland with a family. There are so many things to do:

Get an annual Museum Pass for the whole family for CHF 288 and explore over 500 museums all over the country.
Visit local farms. Many, like Jucker Farm, offer activities for children.
Go hiking. There are plenty of kid-friendly trails all over the country.
Go cycling. Although some routes are steep, you can also find flatter options. In many cities, you can hire bikes if you don’t have your own.
Go to the playground. Since schools are considered public places in Switzerland, you can often use the school playgrounds out of hours.
In the summer, visit the local Badi (outdoor swimming pool). This is a very common summer activity, and you’re bound to meet other local families.
In the winter, explore various sports. Go skiing, sledding, and ice skating. Some cities like Bern even have a free ice rink, so winter sports don’t have to be expensive.
Visit open-air markets. In winter, there are great Christmas markets and during the other seasons, you can buy fresh produce.
Visit special places. There’s a wealth of options in Switzerland: Chocolate factories, cheese factories, castles, lakes offering boat trips, and many more.

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Looking to settle in Switzerland? Read the first part of this article, Moving to Switzerland with Family.

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Living in Switzerland with family can be a great experience. Your children will get to enjoy a safe, clean environment and excellent educational opportunities. Sign up for our Rigby AG newsletter to access our comprehensive Living in Switzerland ebook. You’ll learn about everything from permits to housing to social security.